"Pigeon" is the fourth episode of the first season of the

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comedy-drama Comedy drama (also known by the portmanteau dramedy) is a hybrid genre of works that combine elements of comedy and Drama (film and television), drama. In film, as well as scripted television series, serious dramatic subjects (such as death, il ...

Pushing Daisies ''Pushing Daisies'' is an American comedy-drama television series created by Bryan Fuller that aired on ABC from October 3, 2007, to June 13, 2009. The series stars Lee Pace as Ned, a pie-maker with the ability to bring dead things back to lif ...

''. The episode—which features a duet version of the

They Might Be Giants They Might Be Giants, often abbreviated as TMBG, is an American alternative rock and Children's music, children's band formed in 1982 by John Flansburgh and John Linnell. During TMBG's early years, Flansburgh and Linnell frequently performed as ...

song "

Birdhouse in Your Soul "Birdhouse in Your Soul" is a song by American alternative rock band They Might Be Giants. It was released in late 1989 through Elektra Records as the lead single from the album ''Flood'', making the single the band's first release on a major label ...

"—earned

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. It attracted about 9.7 million viewers for its broadcast premiere in the United States.

Plot

A plane crash into an apartment building leaves Emerson, Ned and

Chuck Chuck () is a masculine given name or a nickname for Charles or Charlie. It may refer to: People Arts and entertainment * Chuck Alaimo, American saxophonist, leader of the Chuck Alaimo Quartet * Chuck Barris (1929–2017), American TV produce ...

investigating whether the pilot committed suicide. Chuck finds herself drawn to the man who appears to be the sole survivor (guest star

Dash Mihok Dashiell Raymond Mihok (; born May 24, 1974) is an American actor and director known as Brendan "Bunchy" Donovan in Showtime's ''Ray Donovan''. Early life Mihok was born in New York City, the son of theater actors Andrea Mihok (née Cloak) and ...

). Olive takes a wounded pigeon to Chuck's aunts for help.

U.S. ratings

This episode aired the day after the

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television network announced an order for a full 22-episode first season of the series.ABC Picks More ''Daisies'', Scripts Added to ''Carpoolers'', ''Moonlight''
an October 23, 2007 article from thefutoncritic.com The full order was not a surprise, since the show had easily won its Wednesday lead-off time slot among adults 18-49 during each of the three previous airings, though that success was against the backdrop of an overall bad start for the new fall TV broadcasting season. The episode competed against the first game of the

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, losing to that sporting event but outdrawing the premiere of ''

Phenomenon A phenomenon ( phenomena), sometimes spelled phaenomenon, is an observable Event (philosophy), event. The term came into its modern Philosophy, philosophical usage through Immanuel Kant, who contrasted it with the noumenon, which ''cannot'' be ...

'' on NBC,Quick Take for Wednesday, October 24, 2007
an ABC press release via thefutoncritic.com as well as every other program that night.

Writer's strike

The week the episode aired in the United States was also one in which screenwriters authorized their union leaders to call what in two weeks became the 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike. ''

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'' later credited the strike for giving ''Pushing Daisies'', a series with only moderate ratings success during its first season, a chance to relaunch. Nine months later, actress

Kristin Chenoweth Kristin Dawn Chenoweth (; born Kristi Dawn Chenoweth; July 24, 1968)Kristin Cheno ...

, who played Olive, cited the strike as one reason for the cancellation though she speculated that other reasons may have also played a role.Sources: ''Daisies'', ''Eli Stone'' and ''Dirty Sexy'' Canceled
a November 2008 article from

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References

External links

* {{Pushing Daisies Pushing Daisies 2007 American television episodes